Noumea Now Offers It Wholesale!

Caledonians in February lived through drastic water cuts, surprising retail price cuts, but ever-rising optimism.

The water cuts, which have become a traditional part of the summer mode de vie over recent years, were even more drastic this year when the Dumbea Dam, the only water supply for Noumea and surrounds, ran almost completely dry.

Governor Verger was forced to take swift action, and for the first time in such an emergency it became an offence, with a SASO fine, to wash one’s car or courtyard, to water the garden or fill the swimming pool. During the height of the shortage, water was turned on in town for only three hours each morning and evening. As one well-perfumed young Parisienne remarked, “You have to be really enthusiastic to keep clean in Noumea these days”.

While traders enjoyed a brisk demand for tanks and bottled mineral water imported from France, much-needed rain finally came to the aid of the Water Board, which for several years now has been working toi improve Noumea’s dam and pipeline facilities.

The water cuts, understandably, caused great inconvenience ini Noumea (not every visitor can afford whisky and ice to brush hisi teeth). But there was no protest from consumers over cuts in another sector, ie price cuts in rents, housing and in goods sold in various retail! stores. The Caledonians, like most shoppers nowadays, have grown accustomed to inflation, and the recent drop in the island’s nickel! income has forced a closer look at household budgets. In their bid to woo customers, shops have thus been forced to cut price margins- Weekly “special sales” are now a regular part of press advertising by Noumea supermarkets, while mark-downs have recently also become widespread among furniture stores, which previously enjoyed extrava gant trading due to the rapid inflow of public servants and othei workers from France.

The new wave of price consciousness may be regarded as following common practice in other competitive societies. But when the restaurant trade begins to follow the trend, then one realises the food-loving French are feeling the pinch. And that the restaurant trade has been hit is indicated by the fact that one Noumea dining spot, after building up an image of elegant luxury, is now advertising “table wines and charm pagne at wholesale prices”.

More discriminate local spending has, of course, delighted the French Administration, which has been happy to report that the cos; of living index for the territory in the 12 months to the end of Decemi ber rose only 6.8 per cent, compared with greater rises of up to 9 pen cent over the previous three years.